Prediction of prognosis in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia using CT score by emergency physicians: a single-center retrospective study

We aimed to develop a method to determine the CT score that can be easily obtained from CT images and examine its prognostic value for severe COVID pneumonia. Patients with COVID pneumonia who required ventilatory management by intubation were included. CT score was based on anatomical information in axial CT images and were divided into three sections of height from the apex to the bottom. The extent of pneumonia in each section was rated from 0 to 5 and summed. The primary outcome was the prediction of patients who died or were managed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) based on the CT score at admission. Of the 71 patients included, 12 (16.9%) died or required ECMO management, and the CT score predicted death or ECMO management with ROC of 0.718 (0.561-0.875). The death or ECMO versus survival group (median [quartiles]) had a CT score of 17.75 (14.75-20) versus 13 (11-16.5), p = 0.017. In conclusion, a higher score on our generated CT score could predict the likelihood of death or ECMO management. A CT score at the time of admission allows for early preparation and transfer to a hospital that can manage patients who may need ECMO.